Lawmakers approve military support in the face of Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, but Cairo has ruled out any strike against Yemen.
Published on October 26, 2026
Egypt’s parliament has authorized President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to provide military support to Saudi Arabia as attacks by Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen intensify.
The House of Representatives, led by Speaker Hisham Badawi, approved the mandate in a vote Monday.
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A parliamentary statement shared with Reuters news agency said El-Sissi was authorized to “take the necessary measures” to help Saudi Arabia defend itself, should Riyadh request help.
The move raises the possibility that Egypt could become more directly involved in a conflict that has ravaged the Gulf and Red Sea in recent weeks. This follows Houthi attacks on Riyadh International Airport and facilities belonging to Saudi Arabia’s national oil company, Aramco, disrupting flights and oil exports.
The Houthi armed group that controls Sanaa, Yemen’s capital, is fighting the Saudi-led coalition, which supports the internationally recognized government.
Fighting has intensified in recent weeks, worsening the humanitarian crisis that has already devastated Yemen.
“Purely defensive”
Hussein Haridy, Egypt’s former deputy foreign minister, said Cairo’s involvement in the conflict would be limited to defensive action.
“The decision adopted today by the Egyptian parliament of course fully authorizes the president, in his capacity as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, to take whatever measures the situation warrants in order to provide Saudi Arabia with everything it needs to defend its territory and infrastructure against any external attack,” he told Al Jazeera.
“The mission, from the Egyptian point of view, is purely defensive in the sense that it is not directed against any part of the region, whether it is a state or a group. So it is now a precautionary measure.”
El-Sisi also said on Wednesday that any Egyptian military action would be limited to protecting Saudi territory and borders, rather than launching attacks against Yemen.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said Cairo remained supportive of a diplomatic settlement after his visit to Riyadh on Wednesday.
The vote followed closed-door parliamentary discussions and an earlier delay in authorizing military aid to Saudi Arabia, which is one of Egypt’s most important economic partners.
Egypt’s constitution requires approval from two-thirds of lawmakers before troops can be sent abroad for combat missions.
Egypt also has a direct interest in the security of the Red Sea. Houthi attacks near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the main route to and from the Suez Canal, have disrupted shipping and reduced canal revenues.
Egypt joined a previous Saudi-led campaign in Yemen in 2015, largely helping secure sea routes with naval forces.
Cairo has not undertaken a large-scale ground deployment since the 1991 Gulf War.
El-Sisi also met with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Cairo on Monday to discuss regional tensions and peace efforts.
According to the Egyptian presidency, Guterres welcomed Cairo’s efforts to prevent an escalation in the Gulf and said diplomacy could help resolve disputes over Iran’s nuclear program and its shipping.
In a message on X on Monday, Guterres called for “maximum restraint”, warning that further fighting could spiral out of control.
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